OLYMPIA — State Rep. Tom Dent (R– Moses Lake) will have a new committee leadership role when the 2023 legislative session convenes next month, according to a statement from Dent’s office. He’ll be the ranking Republican member on the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the statement said.

"I have been very involved in many of the issues before this committee and I have a good relationship with the chair, so this is a good opportunity for me to step in and officially be the lead voice of the caucus on the committee," Dent wrote in the statement. "There may be some high-profile issues before the committee in the upcoming session including riparian buffers, water rights and storage, wildfires and forest management."

Dent has been serving as the assistant ranking member on the committee.

Dent will continue to serve on the House Human Services, Youth and Early Learning Committee, as well as the Transportation Committee.

"My aviation background provides a unique perspective to this committee,” Dent wrote. “I have a number of transportation and aviation-related issues I want to work on including staying involved in finding a new location for an airport in Washington."